Shaheen to NH1: 'It's much easier to campaign when you're not on the ballot'

MANCHESTER – She’s not running for re-election this year, but Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s still spending a lot of time on the campaign trail.

New Hampshire’s senior U.S. senator is crisscrossing the Granite State, stumping on behalf of fellow Democrats, from presidential nominee Hillary Clinton all the way down the ballot.

Speaking one-on-one with NH1 News, Shaheen said “it’s much easier to campaign when you’re not on the ballot. And so I’ve been out there trying to do everything I can to help all the Democrats who are running.”

Shaheen spoke with NH1 News on Monday, after giving a pep-talk to activists and volunteers gathered at the state Democratic Party’s coordinated campaign office in Manchester.

“What you are doing is absolutely critical to our victory on November eighth,” Shaheen told the crowd. “What really can make a difference for those people who may still be undecided is having you folks go to the door and explain why you’re willing to take the time off the be in New Hampshire on a beautiful day like this to spend the afternoon knocking on doors.”

At the gathering, Shaheen also introduced Gov. Maggie Hassan, who’s challenging Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte in one of the nation’s most high profile Senate races.

“I’m very excited with the prospect of Maggie Hassan being elected Senator because we share many concerns about how to address health care for people in New Hampshire and in this country. We share the concern about making sure that young people can go to college and that they can afford to do that without racking up a mountain of debt that’s going to affect their futures lives,” Shaheen told NH1 News.

Asked if she’ll coordinate more closely with Hassan if she’s elected than she currently does with Ayotte, Shaheen answered “I certainly hope so.”

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, joined by (from left to right) state Sen. Lou D'Allesandro, Gov. Maggie Hassan, and state Sen. Donna Soucy at the New Hampshire Democratic Party's coordinated campaign office in Manchester.